Jim Collins Foundation Announces 2020 Grant Recipients

April 09, 2020 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is grateful for all of the generous support and donations during 2019. JCF is delighted to announce we are awarding a historic 7 surgical grants representing the geographic diversity of 5 states (Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin). This is the third year in-a-row that we have been able to award a higher number of grant recipients than the previous year in our organization’s time since being founded 12 years ago.

“Each year our board and independent selection committee sits with all of our grantees’ stories,” said Jody Randall, JCF president. “The moment we truly wish we could share with all of you, is the pure joy that our grantees express when we call them to say ‘Your surgery is going to happen – you have been selected to receive a grant’.”

In addition to JCF’s donors, these grants would not have been possible without the commitment to serving the transgender and/or gender non-binary community by this year’s participating surgeons. JCF is very thankful for the pro bono services of Dr. Christine McGinn (Papillon Center, New Hope, PA), and the generosity of Dr. Scott Mosser (Gender Confirmation Center, CA), Dr. Courtney Caplin (Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, Oklahoma, OK), Dr. Matthew Stanwix (Stanwix Plastic Surgery, Richmond, VA), Dr. Hope Sherie (The Cosmetic Concierge, Charlotte, NC), and Dr. Toby Meltzer (The Meltzer Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ). JCF also looks forward to working this year with Dr. James Parker (Parker Plastic Surgery, Watkinsville, GA).

More than 500 people applied for this year’s grants, demonstrating the continued urgency and financial need. With the addition of this year’s grantees, JCF has awarded a total of 32 grants since 2011. With many of these grants covering 100% of the surgical fees, JCF continues to be a leader in nonprofits providing financial assistance to transgender individuals who would otherwise not have the financial means to access these life-changing surgeries.

“I’m eternally grateful to the Jim Collins Foundation for giving me the opportunity to finally be 100 percent who I am. I can’t express how much their assistance means to me and how much it will improve my mental health. To the Jim Collins Foundation: Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Darcy Mack, a 2020 Hembrough Fund grant recipient.

“I am more than ready to take this huge step in things becoming even better – in my physical body getting closer to matching who I truly am. It’s been almost 8 years of devastating dysphoria, and thanks to the Jim Collins Foundation, I am about to be so incredibly free,” said Kaileb Morgan, a 2020 Founders’ Fund grant recipient.

“Although I’ve desired surgery since childhood, it always felt like more of an unattainable dream than an actual event that I would get to experience. The Jim Collins Foundation changed that for me. Winning this scholarship made every previous defeat feel worth it. It made my five-year transition journey feel more purposeful and intentional. My dreams were literally made into my physical reality that day and it was surreal,” said Rae Lynn, a 2020 Founders’ Fund grant recipient.

“For this amazing foundation to help individuals like me to be able to achieve their dreams is indescribable. I have tried for years to achieve my own dream, from working multiple jobs to performing at local bars to raise money, and yet I have always come up short. Living in a body that doesn’t feel like your own is frustrating, scary, and extremely depressing. Receiving this grant feels like I am finally getting a chance to live my life in my true body,” said Wyatt Wolff, a 2020 Founders’ Fund grant recipient.

“As much as I have tried, I fail to come up with the words that describe the feeling that I have felt since receiving this grant. I’m relieved and I’m happy and I’m incredibly thankful but these words just cannot convey the powerful emotions that I feel. This grant will allow me to finally be free from something that has held me back so much. I’m so incredibly grateful,” said Alex Smith [pseudonym], a 2020 Hembrough Fund grant recipient.

The 2021 grant cycle opens May 15, 2020. JCF will accept applications through August 1, 2020. Individuals who have previously applied and not been selected are eligible to reapply.